Sorry Scotch Beef – as far as the judges of the World Steak Challenge are concerned, you aren't even a runner-up, let alone best in the world.

In fact, the overall winner of this year's international competition hailed from just about as far away from Scotland as its possible to get.

After a full day’s technical judging, a Japanese Wagyu was crowned as supreme steak, and declared a clear cut above the rest by also taking the World’s Best Sirloin and World’s Best Grain-Fed wards.

A first-time entry from Japan, the winning steak was an ‘Akune Gold’, A4 grade, 30-month-old female from Starzen Co., raised in the Kagoshima region with a warm climate and abundant water.

Meanwhile, the World’s Best Rib-Eye went to Australia’s Jack’s Creek, a company which took the 2021 awards for Best Fillet, Best Rib-Eye and Grain-Fed steak. Their 32-month-old pure bred Wagyu was grain fed and praised by judges for being tender, juicy and full of buttery flavour.

This year's winning fillet steak was from an MFC Carni female from Poland. Grain fed and obtained by a cross breed of Polish Holstein and Black Angus.

The Best Grass-Fed steak in the world went to a 30-day matured rib eye from a full bred Dexter from Linden Foods, Northern Ireland. The brand is currently sold in M&S, and was described by judges as being very tender and rich.

Now in its eighth year, this year’s World Steak Challenge attracted more entries than ever before from top steak producers and suppliers worldwide. This year’s challenge took place in conjunction with the official host partner, Bord Bia, the equipment partner, Synergy Grill Technology, and the judging partner, FIRE Steakhouse. The awards were announced at the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin and were judged blind by a panel of over 60 independent experts.

Hosts Ireland took the most medals with a total of 54, followed by England with 36, and Finland with 28.

Organiser Ed Bennington said: “We are thrilled to have a new winner for this year’s World Steak Challenge. It is very exciting to have our first Japanese entry and consequently the winner of World’s Best Steak. The vast number of entries from across the globe truly showcases the quality of steak on an international scale.”

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Beef sector manager at Bord Bia, Mark Zieg, said: “We are proud to welcome all the producers from around the world here to Ireland, where grass-fed and sustainable farming practices is core to our beef industry. We export 90% of our beef to over 50 markets around the world, even as far as Japan and the USA, so it is very important to get our origin known and be recognised on the basis of quality and taste."

Richie Wilson, culinary director of FIRE Steakhouse where the competing steaks were prepared, added: “It was a privilege to welcome the World Steak Challenge to Ireland and to have FIRE Steakhouse & Bar as the venue of choice for the 2022 judging process. To have the world's best beef cooked and served by our excellent team to a panel of industry experts was an absolute honour — a massive congratulations to all of the 2022 winners!”